While we splurge on expensive face and body care products, we tend to neglect our feet which causes them to develop cracks and dry skin buildup over time. But don’t worry because you can transform the damage using the best foot file and restore healthy-looking, soft, and smooth feet. But before we dive onto the top foot files, let’s briefly understand why our heels develop cracks.

Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast, Dr. Andrea Suarez explains, "One cause for dry, cracked feet is hereditary. There are actually a ton of genetic conditions that cause super dry, cracked feet. Then, poorly fitted shoes that don't support your feet properly are a common cause because then you end up having a lot of friction on the soles, which leads to skin thickening and the formation of calluses. Then, of course, there are a variety of skin conditions (like eczema, psoriasis, etc.) that can affect the bottom of your feet." Thus, it's evident that there are several reasons behind those devil calluses, and to fight them, we need our superhero — the foot file!

Our findings show that foot files come in various sizes, shapes, and functionalities. There are manual and electric foot files; the former generally consists of stainless steel or natural materials whereas the latter comes with replaceable heads and varying speeds to adjust the level of abrasion. This list will help you navigate and weigh different option

• 1
  Best for Men

  OWN HARMONY FOR MEN Premium Electric Callus Shaver

  BUY ON AMAZON

Women alone should not have all the fun (read: skincare benefits), which is why the Own Harmony Premium Electric Callus Shaver is specially designed for its male audience. It is a powerful, effective, and not to mention stylish electronic foot file. It has a long-lasting, convex-curve roller consisting of micro-minerals that effectively scuff off hardened skin. The no-slip grip ensures higher control and ease of use. Adding to its benefits, this foot scraper tool has an ergonomic design with a smart protection technology as well as a child-lock system that provides utmost safety. 

2

Best Overall

RIKANS Colossal Foot Rasp Callus Remover

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Transform dry and cracked heels with a quick and easy spa pedicure at home using the Rikans Colossal Foot Rasp Callus Remover. Made of surgical-grade stainless steel, this high-quality foot file works equally well on dry and wet foot surfaces. The firm grip, perfect size, and sharp blade allow you to maneuver it without difficulty to remove layers of dead skin within minutes. Further, the add-on cover and sleek design make it easy to store and carry around. 

3

Best Waterproof Built

PRITECH Electric Foot Callus Remover

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For those who aren’t fond of the “cheese-grater” type of foot files, this Pritech Electric Foot Callus Remover is a great investment! It saves your salon expense by offering effective dead skin and callus removal at home. This electric foot file comes with three roller refills for daily maintenance, removing regular dry skin, and hard callus eradication. Plus it's designed with a smart automatic protection feature that halts the device if the pressure is too strong to avoid damage to the skin.

4

Best Economical

PEFEI Colossal Pedicure Rasp Foot File

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Coming back to the OG stainless steel foot file for calluses, up next, we have the Pefei Colossal Pedicure Rasp Foot File. Based on our first-hand experience, this product checks two crucial criteria - economical and ergonomic. It's made of good-quality materials and has a non-slip frosted texture. The filing block is also slightly curved, which helps to file the feet without hassle. To get the best out of it, use it on wet feet and make your skin baby-soft and smooth.

5

Most Sturdy Grip

ELMCHEE Electric Foot Callus Remover Kit

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The Elmchee Electric Foot Callus Remover Kit is ideal for daily foot care for removing regular dry skin. This automatic foot file for calluses comes with three quartz sand roller heads meant for varying degrees of exfoliation. They are easily removable and washable. Suitable for wet and dry use, you can choose between the two speeds, as per your preference. A full charge goes up to 90 mins of use, which means you can get 2-3 sessions sorted! 

6

Best Lightweight

FU STORE Foot File Callus Remover

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With this footcare set, you will get the benefits of two at the price of one! The Fu Store Foot File Callus Removers are designed to solve your foot problems, from getting rid of dry, dead, cracked skin while also improving the texture of your feet, making them smooth and supple. These foot files are made with high-grade stainless steel and plastic. Due to this, they are waterproof, easily washable, and durable. Plus, these tools are double-sided to function as different types of grinding tools.  

7

Best Manual Tough Callus Tool

PEFEI Pedicure Foot File

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Formed of surgical-grade stainless steel, this foot file for cracked heels by Pefei helps to achieve gorgeous heels at home. The non-slip handle and unique texture that fits the foot curve perfectly allows easy movement and optimal control over the tool. After putting it to the test, we can validate it works well on both dry and wet skin. People on a budget need to pick this tool right away to get rid of excess keratin and dead skin effectively.

8

Best Non-Abrasive

AMOPE Pedi Perfect Pro

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Whether you prefer to carry on with your foot care regime in the shower or set up an elaborate relaxing spa night, the Amope Pedi Perfect Pro will come in handy (quite literally since it's cordless!). This is a simple file for dead skin that transforms cracked heels into silky, smooth ones from the first use. It comes with three refills — regular coarse, exfoliation brush, and ultra coarse. Besides, this product is gentle and non-abrasive on the skin, unlike similar others.  

9

Best Sustainable

KINEPI Foot File

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Taking a step back to the good old pedicure foot file, we have the Kinepi Foot File. Quite hefty and well-built, this filer will last you for years to come. Plus, it's constructed of 100% natural elements — the non-slip handle is made of natural German beech, and the filer consists of white corundum stone, making this tool high-quality and sustainable. This foot file is double-sided and ideal for regular use, as you can use it on either wet or dry skin surfaces. 

10

Best Budget Find

Capspace 4 Pcs Foot Files

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The Capspace Foot Files are a super-duper economical option if you are looking for quick, user-friendly, and easy-to-carry or stock foot files. They are constructed of ABS plastic which is rust-free. The micro-sanding callus remover for feet effectively gets rid of keratin buildup, and other impurities to reveal soft and improved skin texture. Based on your concern and preference, you can use the coarse or fine side to exfoliate and smooth out the skin of your feet. 

11

HOMEVE Reusable Stainless Steel Foot Rasp

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Homeve Reusable Stainless Steel Foot Rasp is your drugstore solution if you want to get rid of long-time accumulated cuticles and calluses or simply want a rejuvenating pedicure at home on a budget. You get a secure grip and easy movement, thanks to the top-notch stainless steel handle. Moreover, you can easily wash and reuse this filer or substitute the abrasive paper for a fresh set. The pack comes with 20 extra papers, so you are covered for a while!

12

BARE AUGUST Oh So Bare Foot File

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Slightly quirky but completely ergonomic is how we'll describe the Bare August Oh So Bare Foot File. This foot file for calluses is constructed like a hair detangler and feels less-intimidating to use. Quite gentle but effective, this pumice stone filer effortlessly buffs away dry and rough skin to reveal healthy-looking feet that you'd want to walk around bare-foot. It comes with a sanitary cover for convenient storage. Easy to use and clean, we totally recommend this to beginners. 

13

PUMICE VALLEY Pumice Stone Brush

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Perfect to massage and stimulate blood flow and relieve the day's fatigue, the Pumice Valley Pumice Stone Brush helps to rejuvenate the cracked skin of the feet, hands, elbows, and heels. It is constructed of 100% natural material. The foot scraper is covered with high-grade Japanese sandpaper on both sides (coarse and fine grit). This makes it ideal for polishing both hard and soft body skin. Additionally, there are two more variants. So you can choose the best one as per your requirement.

14

OTAZWA 21 in 1 Electric Callus Remover Kit

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The Otazwa Electric Callus Remover Kit contains 21 pieces of equipment from stainless steel coarse file, a cuticle fork, a foot brush, a scraping knife, and so on, for a spa-like pedicure at home. A great deal, it comes with three roller heads to remove all types of buildup. You can also adjust the speed as per your desire. What’s more is that it has a built-in light so you get better visibility. Portable and wireless, you can use this professional foot file anytime, anywhere.

15

FOOTLOGIX Foot Care Callus Softener

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Footlogix Foot Care Callus Softener serves as a quick fix in between your spa appointments. A non-abrasive, gentle foot callus remover tool, it is very simple and straightforward to use and clean. It has a non-slippery, soft-touch frame and handle that enables you to maneuver without having to break into a dance! There is a coarse side and a fine side for targeted results. If those cheese grater-type electric filers scare you, this product is safe to use. 

Great, now you must have a fair idea about the different types of foot files, from manual to hi-tech electric ones. Which one should you choose then? There are a couple of parameters that can help you decide on purchasing the best foot file. Let’s see them now.

Apart from cleaning the skin and making it uber smooth, the process of filling the foot helps in regulating the blood flow. Therefore, when selecting the best foot file, look at a tool that can help you improve the overall texture of the skin and maintain it over time. Here are some pivotal determiners:

Nature of Abrasion

To get rid of hard calluses, you would want to select a coarser foot file as opposed to your routine scrubbing. It's better to go for a dual-ended product in case of a manual tool or one with multiple replaceable heads if you prefer an electric filler. Further, if you are new to callus removal and have no spa or pedicure experience, it's best to start with low levels of abrasion. 

Type of Tool

We've seen mainly two types of foot files — manual and electric. A manual filler is more handy-dandy than the latter but requires more strength to get effective results. An electric callus remover may be convenient in the functional aspect but requires you to charge the tool and may not be very durable. Which one is better is entirely a subjective choice.

Material of the Tool

When looking at the material of your foot file, be mindful of two aspects — durability and ease of cleaning. Materials such as stainless steel, ABS, silicone, etc., are ideal. They can be sanitized easily and do not retain bacteria buildup. Moreover, the product should be rust-free and should stand the test of time.

Coarseness

No matter how callused your feet are, avoid investing in foot files that have a cheese grater-like appearance as they are likely to tear and damage your skin. A moderately coarse-textured foot file should instead be preferred.

Other Factors

Based on your preference and practical usage, think about whether you want a wet or a dry callus remover or one that can be used in either setting. Another significant aspect is the weight of the tool. It's better to go for a sturdy but lightweight tool that has a firm grip. These features will help you maneuver with ease. Finally, in the case of replaceable pads, check if they are easily available when you run out of the ones that come with the kit. 

Just be mindful of these points, and you’ll certainly find the best foot file for your skin concern. Before you go, scan through the right way of using a foot file. After all, you don’t want to cause more harm than good.

Using a callus remover is no rocket science. However, it is prone to skin damage if you are very aggressive with the scrubbing or if you skip the necessary steps that make the process painless. 

• If you are using a dry filler, you can simply go ahead with soft, gentle strokes. Do not make the strokes in the up and down direction. It's better if you stick with one motion.
• If you are using a wet callus remover, start by soaking your feet in lukewarm water. 3-5 minutes is an appropriate time frame depending on the severity of your callus and dead skin buildup. Once done, pat dry your feet and go ahead with gentle strokes, as explained in the previous point.
• Remember to not be abrasive and keep moving around, covering the entire surface and focusing on the callus buildup areas.
• Post-filling, clean your feet with soap and water. Add a thick layer of moisturizer, and if feasible, put on a pair of socks to retain that hydration for a longer duration.

And that's it. If you do this at night, you will be amazed to wake up with baby-soft feet in the morning. Also, do not forget to clean and sanitize your foot file for the following use. 

In a nutshell, the best foot file callus remover will help you not only get rid of cracked and dry skin but will also help in its prevention if used regularly. The motion helps to soften the skin, increase blood flow, and enhance the overall texture of the heels. This means you can ditch your shoes and flaunt those high heels or simply wander barefoot without feeling self-conscious. And, of course, maintaining feet health at home helps cut down the trips (and expenses) to the salon. So pick the best foot file right away and show your feet some love and care!